Like a bystander being swept up into the mob surging into a free Black Eyed Peas concert, I’m suddenly surrounded by everything Craftsy. I’m just now discovering what all the excitement’s about.

Craftsy bills itself as “the fastest-growing online crafting community on the web.” It offers online classes, workshops, patterns from indie designers, and an area for sharing photos of finished projects. It includes all manner of crafts, from cake decorating to weaving. My focus is knitting, of course.

I can’t wait to try out some of the online classes. First, I’ll try Gwen Bortner’s Entrelac Knitting. I’ve taken a couple of classes from Gwen, and thoroughly enjoyed them. And I’ve always wanted to learn entrelac, in a curious-but-intimidated kind of way. So it’s a perfect fit.

I was delighted to see that Caro Sheridan, the ace photographer who worked on my book, offers a class. It’s called Shoot It! A Product Photography Primer. Caro is an absolute genius, and her talent and fun personality make this a class I’d love to take too.

I was lucky enough to win a free class of my choice during a TNNA event. I can take any class I want. How fun is that?! I have my eye on subjects ranging from short rows to lace shawl design. Or socks. Or cables. Or….

I’m having a blast getting caught up in the Craftsy phenomenon; now I know what all my crafty friends are talking about!